Shipping freight plays a vital role in supply chain management, yet many shippers neglect to take control of their inbound shipments. Industry experts offer strategies for overcoming five common obstacles to successful inbound freight management.

Schwan’s Home Services optimized its distribution network by using a hybrid insourced/outsourced model; and Sun-Maid Growers of California used collaborative distribution to create better economies of scale in its transportation operations.

Leveraging IT, reconsidering warehouse processes, and conducting periodic network optimization projects are just three of many strategies that enable shippers to not only trim costs, but ensure that transportation spending supports overall business goals.

Electronics manufacturer Siemens switches from air freight to over-the-road transport for cross-border shipments from Mexico to the United States and Canada, cutting 35 percent from its transportation costs thanks to CFI Logistica.

Colgate took more than four million miles out of its network while handling five percent more cases of product – and even managed to cut logistics costs, sharing the savings with customers and suppliers.

Retailers publish routing guides to establish rules for manufacturers, wholesalers and distributors to follow when fulfilling and shipping orders. Here are the benefits of establishing a routing guide.

Transportation forecasts enable planners to shift from reacting to orders to proactively managing capacity. By synchronizing transport forecasts with manufacturing and distribution plans, your entire company can respond to the same demand signals.